Labor Day Deals

You know we love some holiday weekend sales. Let’s see what we got:

JCrew is 40% off everything and an 60% off sale with the code BYESUMMER- I love their prints right now

JCrew Factory is 50-80% off, prices as marked- love a print with the entire leopard

Gap is 40% off everything with the code SALE- I’m questioning if I need joggers

Banana Republic is 40% everything, no code needed, and 50% off some items- I’ve always liked their jackets

Boden is 20% off with the code K7L9- already got this

Loft is 50% off everything with the code YIPPEE- love to stock up on basics

Ann Taylor is 50% off, no code needed- yellow is the new black

Anthropologie is extra 40% off sale plus 20% off some home stuff- they’ve got some great accent pieces

West Elm is up to 30% off with the code SAVEMORE depending on how much you spend- I want a new rug

Pottery Barn is up to 25% off with the code SAVEMORE depending on how much you spend- we all need a new throw

Crate and Barrel is up to 20% off upholstery- have it, but would buy it again

Mark and Graham is 20% off with the code LABORDAY- great place to get a jump on xmas

Happy Shopping! Let me know what you got!

Memorial Day Weekend Sales

Here we go:

Banana Republic is 40% off with the code BRTake40 and the usual sale exclusions. I’ve been waiting for a reason to get this.

Gap is 35% off with the code EVENT. How are we living without this?

Ann Taylor is 50% off full price styles with the code Summer50. You should at least get this top.

Loft is 60% off “summer faves” (i.e. select styles) and sale plus 40% off new arrivals- no code needed. I’ll take this new arrival for breezy summer nights.

Anthro is an extra 30% off sale items- no code needed. I want this, and now it’s cheap!

JCrew is 30% off with the code WEEKEND. This is perfect for work.

JCrew Factory is 50% off, prices as marked. Get some shorts!

Boden is 30% off with the code 2Z7C. Love it!

Nordstrom’s Half Yearly sale is on! I think we need this.

Crate and Barrel is having a sale on outdoor furniture, and is 15% select full price items with the code SAVE15.

Pottery Barn is doing a buy more and save event with the code SAVEMORE.

West Elm, surprise, surprise, is doing the same sale as Pottery Barn with the code MEGASALE.

Meanwhile, since this is a patriotic weekend, if you want a laugh and you love the Marvel actors in the new Captain America movie, may I recommend watching some of their funny interviews from the press tour. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan (with an emphasis on Sebastian Stan) are THE BEST. And PS- Hawkeye is hilarious. Ok I’m done now.

 

Gift Guide 2015: Part 5

Today we’re brainstorming gifts fir the couples on your list.

Kitchen

Bouchon Bakery

Depending on the culinary skills of your recipient, a fancy baking mix with a pretty mixing bowl and/or spatula is a fun and useful gift. For “fancier” baking mixes, I look to Williams Sonoma. It will look great paired with some of their seasonal or standard accessories like whisks, spatulas, cookie cutters, baking tins, or mixing bowls. If your recipients are already pro bakers or chefs, you might want to replace the baking mix with some premium ingredients like fancy vanilla extract, salt, olive oil, etc. and a tea towel. If you want to show of your culinary skills, consider making your best cookies and packaging them in gift worthy containers that they can reuse.

West Elm Bowls

Depending on how full you think the recipients kitchen cabinets are, I think it’s fun to gift a small set of pretty bowls, mugs, or a serving platter. It’s great to find unique items in boutiques and specialty kitchen stores, but if you want a short cut I think West Elm, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Sur La Table, and Williams Sonoma all have good options. If you can spare a few days, most of these retailers have personalized serving trays as well!

Home and Car

Address Stamp

A personalized set of notepads for the kitchen counter or a custom address stamp is a thoughtful and useful accessory for most households. As we know from my post on personalized gifts, Paper Source is my go-to for my stationary needs. You can pair this with a calendar a bottle of wine for a more substantial present.

faufurPB

I think one of the most thoughtful ways to gift is to upgrade something that gets a lot of use. One of these things is a throw blanket because, 1. people tend to accumulate  cheaper fleece or those sweatshirt blankets, and 2. blankets wear out over time and it’s nice to get a fresh one. And God forbid I have a blanket that actually compliments my living room (don’t forget, faux fur, like metallic, is considered a neutral if you’re from New Jersey)! This is another thing that you can get from your favorite home boutique, but I also like the options at Pottery Barn (above) and West Elm. And if it’s a family with young kids or pets, do them a favor and go for something machine washable.

AmazonEcho

My brother cannot stop talking about the Amazon Echo and apparently Oprah agrees with him. It’s basically Siri on steroids. It’s a speaker, it answers questions, and it can even turn your lights on and off (if you get the right light bulbs). Plus they are apparently adding functions every day. It’s a little pricier, so it’s for the people you really like.

Frost Guard

If you’re game to gift something extremely practical, take a look at the Q. QVC sells this thing called the Frost Guard. It’s a windshield cover that is perfect for those in colder climates. Instead of spending time cleaning off your frosty, snowy windshield, you just take off the Frost Guard and get on your way! This is great for people who park outside, and have to rush off to work in the early mornings! Pair with other cold weather accessories or some hot chocolate mix for a bigger present.

Experience

Tickets to a show or sports events, or a gift card to a restaurant is the perfect alternative to a material gift. The trick is catering to their interests and making it convenient for them logistically. Here are a few ideas: